There are several ways that teens can support their communities. Whether your idea of community is as small as your family or as large as you neighborhood, you have the power to make a positive influence on the people around you. Think about the qualities that are most important to you: do confidence, hope, individuality, imagination, friendship, and inspiration come to mind? What if each of these qualities came to life as if they were real people?
The Pillar Project, an assignment created by Carl Gersten for an eighth grade math class at William H. Lincoln School in Brookline, Massachusetts, gave teens the opportunity to express themselves through the mind, body, and view of a person who embodies their most cherished qualities. Out of the entire class, the projects of six young women were selected to appear on Teen Voices Online. Following these fictional pieces, each student has created an artistic "pillar" model that includes pictures, lyrics, quotes, colorful images, and limericks that represent their chosen qualities. The bottom of the pillar honors the qualities of their classmates and peers and discusses the legacy that each of their qualities will leave behind with their community.
Pillar Project Activity Guide
